Free online courses from SENA: what's available and how to enroll

At the foundation, we frequently receive messages from mothers and young women with the same phrase: "I want to study something, but I can't afford it." The answer is almost always closer than they think, and this year it even came from a different direction.

The Free online courses from SENA They have no tuition or monthly fees, they are studied from a cell phone or computer, and today they are consulted and registered for on the SENA's offerings portal, not on the site that most people still use. On August 8, 2026, we checked the official platform and found 464 virtual programs Open, most for 40 to 48 hours, and with a minimum age of 14. Here we tell you what they require, how to choose one that suits you, and what people get stuck on.

Do the free online courses offered by SENA cost anything?

No. SENA training is free for those who take it. SENA is a public entity attached to the Ministry of Labor, and its training is financed with public funds, so neither registration, the course, nor the certificate are charged.

This also means something practical: if someone asks you for money to "enroll" you or "reserve your spot," you're being scammed. It's the same pattern we saw with government aid programs, and we explained it in our guide on... How to identify subsidy scams.

Where can I see the offer and where can I register today?

Here's the change that's causing many people to struggle to secure a spot. The offer and registration are handled in the... Betowa offers portal from SENA. That portal states it clearly in its own notice: it is "only for offer and registration services", and refers to SOFIA Plus for administrative services.

SOFIA Plus hasn't disappeared. It's still there, and the selection tests, certificates, and application procedures are all still available. What's changed is where you view the catalog and where you click the registration button.

It's worth noting something else we found that same day: the SOFIA Plus homepage still advertises "more than 250 virtual programs," while the list offer portal 464 virtual programs out of a total of 716. If you used the old number, you're missing almost half the catalog. For step-by-step instructions on the account and passwords, we have a separate guide. SENA Sofía Plus registrations.

¿Cómo inscribirse a los cursos virtuales del SENA en Sofía Plus?

Hoy la inscripción a los cursos virtuales ya no se hace en Sofía Plus: se hace en Betowa, el portal de oferta del SENA. Creás la cuenta con tu documento, buscás el curso con el filtro Virtual, abrís la ficha y te inscribís. Sofía Plus queda para las pruebas y los trámites del proceso.

Lo revisamos otra vez el 27 de septiembre de 2026 y el aviso del portal sigue igual. En la práctica, el camino es este:

1. Registrate en Betowa. El formulario pide tipo y número de documento, lugar y fecha de expedición, y que aceptés los términos de uso. Tené la cédula o la tarjeta de identidad a mano, porque la fecha de expedición es donde más se equivoca la gente.
2. Filtrá por modalidad Virtual. Ese día el portal mostraba 685 programas en total y 474 virtuales. Sin el filtro te salen mezclados los presenciales.
3. Abrí la ficha antes de darle al botón. Ahí están las horas, el tipo de formación y la edad mínima.
4. Confirmá que quedaste. Betowa tiene una opción de consultar inscripción con tu tipo y número de documento. Si no aparece, la inscripción no terminó.

Si ya tenías usuario de Sofía Plus de una convocatoria anterior, no lo botes: ahí se presentan las pruebas de selección y se hacen los trámites administrativos. Y si algo se traba, el SENA atiende en Bogotá al 601 736 60 60, en el resto del país al 018000910270 y por WhatsApp al 305 809 2444, de lunes a viernes de 7:00 a.m. a 7:00 p.m. y los sábados de 8:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m.

What are the entry requirements?

For supplementary virtual training, which consists of short courses, the requirements stated on the portal itself are short:

• Minimum age of 14 years. Each program card displays the restriction "14+".
• Identity document and an account created on the platform, with document type and number and password.
• An email you actually check. That's where the course confirmation and notifications arrive.
• A device with internet access and basic handling of email, browser and word processor.

They don't require a Sisbén score, enrollment in a social program, or a high school diploma for the supplementary courses. That's precisely the difference with accredited training, which does have a selection process and tests, and with the application deadlines we explained in [reference to previous section]. SENA calls for applications.

How long do they last and what do you get in the end?

The supplementary online courses we reviewed are almost all between 40 and 48 hours, distributed over a few weeks according to the program. It's a burden that can be managed through work, which is the reality for most of the families we support.

Upon completion and passing the course, SENA certifies the training, and the certificate can be downloaded from the SENA platform, which has its own Certificates section. The exact date your certificate becomes available depends on the program and your registration number, so this will be confirmed through the official SENA channels.

¿Los cursos virtuales del SENA dan certificado?

Sí. Si terminás y aprobás un curso virtual complementario, el SENA te certifica la formación, y el certificado se descarga en certificados.sena.edu.co, que es la sección a la que manda el propio menú de Betowa. No se paga nada por él.

Lo que sí hay que tener claro es qué clase de papel es. Las preguntas frecuentes de Sofía Plus separan dos cosas: la formación virtual, que describe como «formación complementaria de corta duración», y las carreras técnicas, que según el mismo SENA son las que «ofrecen un título». Un curso de 40 horas te deja un certificado que sirve en la hoja de vida y para demostrar que sabés hacer algo concreto. No es un título de técnico, y conviene no venderlo así en una entrevista.

Nos ha pasado con familias que llegan con cinco certificados cortos pensando que suman una carrera. No suman. Sirven para probar un área y para arrancar a cobrar un oficio pequeño, y si el área te gustó, el siguiente paso es una titulada.

How to choose a course that will truly be useful to you?

The catalog changes every quarter, so there's no point in memorizing names. A better criterion for choosing is:

1. Start with the craft, not the fancy title. Ask yourself what you want to be able to earn in six months and search for that word.
2. Make sure it's truly virtual. In the listing, each entry indicates the format. There are in-person courses and special courses mixed together in the results.
3. Check the times before you register. A 48-hour course with two jobs per week is not sustainable if you are on rotating shifts.
4. Chain it up. A short supplementary course is useful for testing the area; if you liked it, then it's worth pursuing a degree or a scholarship, and comparing it with the others. ICETEX requirements.

On which platform is each thing done?

This is the table that would have saved us calls. We put it together using the information each portal provides about itself:

Hepacom was created using the information published in the SENA job portal and in the SOFIA Plus portal, consulted on August 8, 2026. The offer portal warns that it is "only for offer and registration services".

Common mistakes that ruin the registration

• Look for the course on a website that is not SENA's. There are websites circulating that copy the catalog and charge for "consulting." Always verify that the domain ends in sena.edu.co.
• To leave the process unfinished. Checking the requirements box is not enough: you have to confirm your registration and wait for the message that it is finished.
• Register an email that you do not check. If the course start notification falls on a dead account, the spot is lost without you even noticing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the free online courses offered by SENA count towards your resume?
Yes. They are training certified by a public entity, and in many trades the SENA certificate is what they require for hiring.

Can I take several courses at the same time?
The portal doesn't publish a limit for online supplementary training, but each program has its own number of hours. Confirm your situation with SENA's helplines before registering for two programs.

Can a foreigner study at SENA?
Yes, with the corresponding study permit. The permit application process is separate and is handled by Migración Colombia (Colombia's immigration authority).

Do I need a high school diploma?
No, there are no requirements for online supplementary courses. However, there are academic requirements and a selection process for degree programs.

¿Hay cursos virtuales del SENA técnicos?
En el portal de oferta, no en este momento. El 27 de septiembre de 2026 filtramos por modalidad Virtual y de los 474 resultados, 472 eran formación complementaria y 2 cursos especiales: ningún técnico. El mismo portal anuncia inscripciones de la oferta regular virtual del 7 al 9 de octubre de 2026, así que esos días revisá el cronograma de Betowa. Los técnicos, cuando se abren, tienen pruebas de selección y dan título.

What if I am 14, 15 or 16 years old?
You can register: the age restriction shown on the forms is 14 years and older.

How Hepacom accompanies you

At the Hechos Para la Comunidad Foundation, we work for decent housing, and we've learned that a house doesn't sustain itself. It requires an income that covers the mortgage payment and rent until you can build your own home. That's why a 48-hour course that qualifies you to charge for a trade isn't separate from our work: it's the foundation upon which everything else is built. the right to decent housing.

If you're at that point, write to us at donaciones@hepacom.org or through our website contact. We provide free guidance and help you locate the official channel that corresponds to you.

Last updated: September 2026.

Information guide. The procedure is handled by the official entity. Verify through the official channel. Hepacom does not charge or process payments.